Legal Definitions - genuine

Genuine

In legal terms, genuine describes something that is authentic, real, and exactly what it purports to be, free from any forgery, counterfeiting, or deception.

Here are some examples:

• Imagine a situation where a collector purchases a rare antique vase from an auction house. The auction house represents the vase as a genuine artifact from a specific historical period. If an expert later determines the vase is a modern replica or a cleverly altered piece, its genuineness would be called into question. This illustrates that for an item to be genuine, it must truly possess the qualities and origin it is claimed to have, rather than being a fake or imitation.

• Consider a scenario where an employee submits a doctor's note to their employer to justify an absence. The employer might need to verify that the doctor's note is genuine. This means confirming that the note was actually issued by a licensed medical professional and that the information within it has not been altered or fabricated. If the note is found to be forged or tampered with, it would not be considered genuine, potentially leading to disciplinary action.